Cramps, bloating, and fatigue are definitely valid reasons for wanting to skip a workout, but keeping your fitness regimen up may actually help you manage your PMS symptoms. According to Dr. Kate White, MD, MPH, and an assistant professor of obstetrics and gynecology, incorporating exercise into your regular routine is known to benefit your overall health, including that time of the month. In addition to helping your energy levels, working out during your period can also combat moodiness. However, the key is to treat exercise as a long-term prescription rather than a one-time treatment. Translation: you can’t expect exercise to alleviate your symptoms after a single workout; you need to work out regularly sort of as a preventative measure.
“I don’t think about exercise as like an aspirin,” Dr. White told POPSUGAR. “It’s not something that you take when you have the pain. It’s more like a vitamin that you take every day towards improving overall health.”
And if you’ve personally found that exercising regularly helps keep your cramps in check, taking significant time off can cause painful cramps to return with a vengeance. However, pushing yourself when the last thing you want to do is hit the gym can hurt you too. Listen to your body, and if you’re feeling particularly crappy, it’s completely OK to allow yourself to skip a day or two. Instead, look for other forms of self-care, such as taking a hot bath to soothe bad cramps.
